Those, such as area MP Gord Brown, who regularly attend the annual meeting, banquet and fundraiser put on by the Grenville Federation of Agriculture like to quip that the main attraction is the pie.

There's no doubt the plethora of homemade pie varieties, topping off the 2018 turkey dinner held Friday evening at Roebuck Community Hall, were among the best you'll taste anywhere, with a few cake selections thrown in to appease those particular dessert lovers.

Some, of course, opted for both... but not Gord as he'd be the first to insist; and not his perennial sidekick MPP Steve Clark who had one modest wedge. Unlike pie-in-the-sky politicians, when it comes to choosing pie over cake, I always have a hard time; I picked carrot cake and got Lynn to go for the blueberry pie. Although Lynn resisted my advances - again - I ended up downing the lion's share of both pieces and it took every ounce of willpower to stop myself from going back for more.

While I didn't check to see what entertaining guest speaker Accidental Farm Wife Diana Leeson Fisher had on her dessert plate, I'm sure it was only a sliver.

As for GFA president-for-life Adrian Wynands, he ate a large slice of humble pie when, much to his surprise, he was at the receiving end of the federation's annual Award of Merit, a prize he normally hands out. As is his habit, he gave much of the credit to wife Carol who he said runs everything. While that's true, a lesser man might have tried to hog the acclaim for himself.

I was joking - kind of - when I said Adrian was president for life. Even he doesn't believe that, although he has chalked up something like 30 years in the federation driver's seat and was acclaimed once again Friday.

Yes, the pie is a big draw but that's not the only reason the hall was packed. In fact, we were lucky to get a seat, much less dessert. We were last-minute ticket buyers, and federation organizers had to set up an extra table for stragglers such as ourselves. The advantage was that we didn't get a table number and were invited to join the head table - the first called - in the chow line.

The real reason so many turn up at the GFA annual meeting is because they're hardworking members such as Spencerville farmer Doug Cleary who was recognized for 4o years of participation, or because they want to pay tribute to those diligent workers who do so much for the county.

Once again this year, the county federation awarded thousands of dollars to its two main causes, area 4-H and community food banks; 4-H and related agricultural programs were given $3,300, while three food bank managers went home with $6,000 between them.

I had the singular pleasure of being introduced to the crowd as a ''Friend of Agriculture''. I'm proud to have friends like these.